A Birmingham hospital has released a first glimpse of its new £37.5 million cancer and rare diseases centre which will be built on the site of a former car park.

The new building, in Whittall Street, will be run by Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) and be home to the UK's first Rare Diseases Centre for children, a combined inpatient and outpatient cancer centre and three operating theatres.

Work can now start on the development after city planning chiefs awarded permission to the project which last year came under fire over the fact a 300-space car park would have to be lost.

The four-storey building is due for completion in late 2017 and is aimed at increasing capacity and streamlining care for young people with cancer and rare diseases.

The development will have staff breakout rooms, single en-suite rooms, play areas, a teenage common room for cancer patients, courtyard, café and breastfeeding room.

Funded by the £4 million Children's Cancer Centre Appeal, the money donated will be used to increase space around each bed, along with providing a light and bright outpatient area.

Money raised through the £3.65 million Star Appeal, which in just six months has raised more than £800,000, will also go directly towards the new and unique Rare Disease Centre.

BCH's interim chief executive David Melbourne said: "This is the single biggest investment we have made in our Steelhouse Lane site."

Last year, Coun Deirdre Alden (Con Edgbaston) said it was ridiculous to take parking spaces away and expect staff to use public transport or cycle to work, particularly as the building will be used for eight years as a move is planned to the Birmingham Women's Hospital.

Hospital officials said drop off spaces were available along with a dedicated ambulance bay directly outside the Whittall Street entrance, creating easy access for patients and visitors.

A spokesman added: "Should the hospital make a decision to move to another site over the next ten years, following the planned merger with Birmingham Women's Hospital, the nature of the building's design will allow it to remain as a standalone healthcare facility."

Sketch of the reception area in Birmingham Children's Hospital's new clinical building
Sketch of the reception area in Birmingham Children's Hospital's new clinical building